Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
  • F16K31/06—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a magnet, e.g. diaphragm valves, cutting off by means of a liquid
  • F16K31/0644—One-way valve
  • F16K31/0655—Lift valves
  • F16K31/0665—Lift valves with valve member being at least partially ball-shaped
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
  • H01F7/00—Magnets
  • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
  • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
  • H01F7/16—Rectilinearly-movable armatures
  • H01F7/1607—Armatures entering the winding

Definitions

• This Invention relates to the use of electromagnetically operated hydraulic valve devices.
• Solenoid operated hydraulic valves have been used for many applications.
• Bouvet et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,320,781 Issued March 23, 1982 and entitled “Three-Way Electrically-Actuated Hydraulic Distributor” Illustrates a solenoid operated hydraulic valve device utilizing a magnetic ball displaced by energization of the electromagnetic coil.
• Komaroff et al . U.S. Patent No. 3,661,183 issued May 9, 1972 and entitled "Electromagnetically Operated Valve With Two Seats” describes a complex electromagnetically operated valve device which displaces an armature in order to move a ball valve from a valve seat.
• Eckert et al. U.S. Patent No.
• the present invention comprises an electromagnetically operated hydraulic valve device providing an almost instantaneously responsive displacement of the valve in order to effect fluid flow relative thereto.
• the hydraulic valve comprises a cylindrical housing having one end open and the other end enclosed with a bushing extending therefrom.
• the housing has a plurality of longitudinal openings for eliminating eddy currents.
• Located within the housing is a cylindrical bobbin supporting an electrical winding and having an interior through opening.
• a core member encloses the open end of the housing and has a circular post extending within the bobbin opening.
• a nonmagnetizable sleeve is located within the interior of the bushing in order to provide a constant cross section gap, and is attached to one end of a cylindrical armature, the other armature end having an opening therein and extending within the bobbin opening.
• the post has an opening which receives one end of a coll spring, the other end of the coil spring being received within the armature opening.
• An outer valve casing is secured over the housing bushing, the outer valve casing having an interior cavity with a groove disposed in the wall of the cavity.
• An inner valve casing having a circumferential boss about the perimeter of the casing is fitted within the interior cavity by means of a leak resistant, snap-together engagement of the circumferential boss and groove, and a glass ball valve captured within a subinterior cavity in the inner valve casing.
• the ball valve is held in sealing engagement with the outer valve casing valve seat by means of a free-floating drive pin, the other end of the drive pin abutting the armature. Energization of the winding effects an almost instantaneously responsive displacement of the armature whereby the ball valve is displaced relative to the valve seat and fluid flow effected thereby.
• the electrcmagnetlcally operated hydraulic valve device of the present invention is designed to provide an almost instantaneous response.
• the device is designed to increase the initial displacement forces effected by energization of the coils. This is accomplished by providing a constant gap in the form of the nonmagnetizable sleeve disposed between the armature and the bushing. Additionally, the ball valve travels only a small distance so that the required displacement of the ball valve is accomplished during the maximum force portion of solenoid operation.
• the device provides a residual gap between the end of the core post and the armature, the residual gap being located within the interior of the windings, thereby preventing magnetic lock-up of the armature and post.
• the longitudinal slots or openings in the cylindrical housing break up and eliminate current flow which can form in the perimeter of the housing. This results in magnetic flux flew concentrating within the desired flow path through the winding, armature, core and housing, to assist in effecting the fast response time.
• the glass ball valve seats tightly against the nylon valve seat of either the outer valve casing or the inner valve casing, to provide a leak resistant valve. Additionally, the free-floating pin is designed as a separate piece rather than an integral part of the armature, in order to compensate for the stack-up of manufacturing tolerances and to eliminate alignment problems.
• the inner valve casing and outer valve casing have a snaptogether interfltment which precludes leakage about the valve casings, and greatly simplifies assembly.
• the hydraulic valve device is easily assembled by the "drop-in” method of assembly whereby the ball valve is positioned between the inner and outer casings, the casings snap-fitted together, the free-floating drive pin inserted within the opening in the inner valve casing, the armature and coil spring placed within the bushing and the outer valve casing secured to the housing over the bushing, with the bobbin and core piece all previously inserted into the housing.
• FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the electromagnetically operated hydraulic valve device of the present invention
• FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the hydraulic valve device of FIGURE 1;
• FIGURE 3 is a section view along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating the valve device in the closed position;
• FIGURE 4 Is the section view of FIGURE 3 and illustrating the valve device in the open position.
• the electromagnetically operated hydraulic valve device is referenced generally by numeral 10.
• the valve device 10 comprises a cylindrical metallic housing 12 having a plurality of longitudinal openings 14 disposed about the perimeter of housing 12. End 16 of housing 12 is open and oppositely disposed end 18 has a cylindrical bushing 19 extending therefrom. Secured over bushing 19 and housing end 18, is an outer valve casing 40 including circular seals 42 and various fluid flow openings 43, 44 and 49.
• Core menrber 20 encloses open end 16 of housing 12, and has a cylindrical core post 22 extending Into an interior opening 32 of a nonmagnetlzable, nonconductive bobbin 30.
• Nonmagnetic washer 26 is disposed over the end of core post 22.
• Coil spring 39 is received in core opening 23 and complementary opening 31 in armature 36.
• Bobbin 30 supports an electrical winding 34, the bobbin 30 being located within housing 12.
• opening 32 of bobbin 30 is one end 35 of a cylindrical metallic armature 36 having a nonmagnetizable brass sleeve 38 secured about the other end.
• Sleeve 38 can be attached either to end 33 of armature 36 or within opening 17 of bushing 19.
• Armature 36 includes a slot opening 37 which, in conjunction with housing slot opening 15, precludes eddy currents and fluid lock-up of the valve device.
• the nonmagnetizable sleeve 38 and associated end 33 of armature 36 are positioned within opening 17 of bushing 19.
• Abutting armature 36 is a free-floating metallic drive pin 50 which engages, at its other end, a glass ball valve 60.
• Glass ball valve 60 is located within the subinterior cavity 75 of inner valve casing 70, cavity 75 enclosed by valve seat 72 of inner valve casing 70 and valve seat 45 of casing 40.
• Groove 48 is disposed about the wall of outer valve casing cavity 46, and receives the circumferential boss 74 of inner valve casing 70 in order to provide a snap-together engagement and securement of the valve casings. This provides a leak tight securement of the casings so that fluid does not leak through the casings during operation of the device.
• Ball valve 60 Is made of glass and provides a leak tight engagement with the nylon material of valve casings 40 and 70. Outer valve casing 40 provides valve seat 45 and inner valve casing 70 provides valve seat 72, which when engaged by glass ball valve 60, do not allow any fluid to leak through the repectlve valve seat.
• Free-floating metallic drive pin 50 eliminates alignment problems between the armature 36 and the glass ball valve 60. Because pin 50 is not attached to or an Integral part of armature 36, there is compensation for manufacturing tolerance variations and no problems in aligning the pin with ball valve 60.
• Inner valve castng 70 is made of a nylon material and provides an easily assembled, snap-together fitting with outer valve casing 40.
• the snap-together fitting has proved to be leak proof and, in conjunction with the leak proof engagement of the glass ball valve 60 with valve seats 45 and 72, prevents any fluid from leaking through the hydraulic valve portion of the electromagnetic valve device. It is very important that fluid does not leak through the valve portion of the device because such leakage could reduce the fluid flow and pressures in the apparatus to which the valve device is attached.
• the device of the present invention effects the maximum force possible during displacement of the armature.
• the device uses only a very small operative displacement of the ball valve to accomplish the required operation of the valve.
• the nonmagnetic sleeve 38 provides a constant cross section gap between armature 36 and bushing 19. This concentrates flux flow in this area and increases the forces acting upon the armature.
• a gap A which includes the residual gap provided by washer 26, located between end 35 of armature 36 and the end of the core post 22, the gap being circumposed by winding 34.
• the inductance is affected by ithe flux flow at critical areas of the electromagnetic device 10. Gap A provides inductance thereacross and allows movement of the armature towards the post.
• the arrows in the housing, winding, bushing, armature and core illustrate the flux flow path.
• the cumulative areas of the bushing, sleeve, and end 35 of armature 36 are greater than gap area A between the ends of armature 36 and post 22 in order to concentrate flux flow thereat and effect a high speed, fast response that overcomes fluid flow forces.
• openings 14 and slot 15 In order to Increase the response time of the electromagnetic device, current flows through the path of least resistance, which could include circular paths within the cylindrical housing. In order to eliminate this circular flow of eddy currents, longitudinal openings 14 and slot 15 have been located within the housing 12. The openings 14 and slot 15 eliminate eddy currents and provide a route for flux flow as illustrated in FIGURE 4. However, it is important that openings 14 do not cumulatively comprise an area so large that the area of housing 12 is less than the combined area of the armature and coil. In other words, the total area of the metal housing 12 should be at least equal to or greater than the combined area of the core and armature, this relationship providing a concentration of flux lines and contributing to effecting a fast response time.
• FIGURE 3 illustrates the electrcmagnetic hydraulic valve device 10 with the ball valve 60 engaging the valve seat 45 in the closed position which prevents fluid from flowing through port 43 into subinterior cavity 75. Fluid flows through ports 49 into subinterior cavity 75 and outwardly through ports 44.
• FIGURE 4 illustrates valve device 10 in the retracted position, after energization of the windings 34, with valve 60 engaging valve seat 72. Energization of windings 34 provides a flux flow as illustrated by the arrows, which results in a high speed displacement of armature 36 towards core post 22. This high speed response permits a correspondingly quick retraction of drive pin 50 which allows ball valve 60 to unseat from valve seat 45 and engage valve seat 72, whereby fluid flows through port 43 into subinterior cavity 75 and then outwardly through ports 49.
• the electrcmagnetlcally operated hydraulic valve device 10 is easily assembled and operated. Windings 34 are disposed on bobbin 30, the bobbin inserted into housing 12, and metallic core 20 threadedly Inserted into open end 16 of housing 12.
• Inner valve casing 70 receives the glass ball valve 60 within subinterior cavity 75, and casing 70 placed within cavity 46 and snap-fitted into engagement with casing 40.
• Drive pin 50 is inserted within opening 73 of inner valve casing 70, and armature 36 and coll spring 39 inserted within bushing 19. Then outer valve casing 40 is secured over bushing 19 and to housing end 18.
• SubInterior cavity 75 can be located in either the inner or outer valve casings. The valve device may be designed so that ball valve 60 is in a normally open position whereby retraction of armature 36 displaces drive pin 50 against ball valve 60 to engage valve seat 45 and effect closure of the valve.
• the flow directions of the valve seats and ports are all a matter of design choice for the particular application, and such design variations of the valve device are not, per se, part of the present invention, but well within the various design modifications of the device.
• the electrcmagnetically operated hydraulic valve device is assembled from a minimum number of parts to provide a leak resistant hydraulic valve device with an almost instantaneous response.
• the electromagnetic valve device utilizes the maximum force available at initial energization for operation of the hydraulic valve whereby the fluid flow pressure can be eastly overcome and a high speed response provided.
• the electrcmagnically operated hydraulic valve device may be utilized with automotive transmissions.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

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Families Citing this family (27)

Citations (6)

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• 1983
  • 1983-09-30 US US06/537,532 patent/US4509716A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1984
  • 1984-09-05 EP EP84903334A patent/EP0158643B1/de not_active Expired
  • 1984-09-05 DE DE8484903334T patent/DE3478337D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1984-09-05 JP JP59503302A patent/JPS61500030A/ja active Pending
  • 1984-09-05 WO PCT/US1984/001396 patent/WO1985001561A1/en active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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